Tag: winter

  • Playlist: Christmas in Ireland

    Playlist: Christmas in Ireland

    Playlist: Christmas in Ireland

    About 2 years ago, I started putting a playlist together on Spotify of contemporary Irish artists playing Christmas and Winter Songs. I just left it there and didn’t share it. I thought it was now a good time to do that.

    If you need a soundtrack to your festivities, I would encourage you to use this playlist. If you are a retailer or pub, use this soundtrack. Over the past couple of years, we know that musicians and venues have had a really tough time. If we can share their music, maybe even gain one new fan who buys some music, that’s a win.

    Support Irish Musicians

    I know Spotify isn’t great at all with paying artists for their streams and even if we played this 24/7 for a year, it wouldn’t be enough to help financially. But, what we can do is use the tools we have to help support Irish artists and give a little back to those who kept us entertained with nightly live streams during lockdowns.

    If playing this music can encourage people to support or possibly find their new favourite Irish artist, then that’s a good thing.

    Listen on Spotify.

    I hope you enjoy this playlist. I’m hoping to keep adding to this over the next few Christmases.

    You can listen below or go directly to the playlist here.

  • 100 Days to Change // Day 32 – 59

    100 Days to Change // Day 32 – 59

    100DaystoChange32-59

    100 Days to Change // Day 32 – 59 // Feb 1 – 27 2016

    I kinda realised somewhere along the way that if I was actually trying to do stuff properly that I probably wouldn’t be able to keep updating this every day. But, even though I haven’t updated this, it doesn’t mean that I haven’t been a busy bee.

    As I write this, the temperature today was 6 degrees so even though there might be a few green shoots on the trees it’s still winter. It’s too cold for me. Hats, scarves and frost covered cars seem to have dominated more for the past week than all of winter so far. The seasons are shifting, winter is starting later and going on later.

    Even though this makes me want to go hibernate, I have been putting a decent amount of effort into changing things, and doing things to make that happen.

    I’ve been continuing doing the modules in Music Publishing from the Music Managers Forum. Lots of information, sometimes nearly too much to take in at once. I’ve registered for a day course next week which has been described as ‘a three year degree in one day’. I’ll need my sleep the night before!

    I also was at February’s RIG Train night which was entitled ‘Loving the sound of Breaking Glass’. I really enjoyed it. One of the best of their nights I’ve been to in a while. It was basically all based around sound and how it can be cleverly used in radio, in tandem with foley sounds, library music and when scripting.

    There was one part of the night which was delivered by Mat McKinley of Hotwiredmusic.co.uk . I love how upbeat and motivating he was when speaking about making your own music (even if you don’t know much about music). Biggest thing really to remember is that you’re being creative, nothing can be wrong. Mat runs some courses and things. Definitely going to investigate more about doing them. You’ll be buzzing after listening to the man.

    Other things that have been taking up some of my time are writing and voicing some pieces for The Irish Times, which is pretty cool. I’ve never really thought of myself as political, I just believe that everyone is equal. Everyone should be given the same opportunities and chances. You look after those less fortunate, make sure everyone has a bed to sleep in, a school to be educated in, a hospital to get better in and hopefully, let them know that someone loves them. There’s a lot of religions actually based on less. If I can raise awareness about matters I feel are important at home and for emigrants abroad who would like to eventually move home, I’m glad I can. Thanks to The Irish Times and Generation Emigration for giving me a platform.

    The biggest thing for me has been working on a new London based website which I hope to launch next week. It could actually be done by tomorrow evening. Once it’s done, I’ll let you know. Once I get that up and running I hope to launch a UK version of the same site. I’m looking forward to seeing if it will all work. I think it can, I just need to remember that it will be a bit of work for a while.

    If it works, it would be a big step towards a lifestyle change, which is really what we all want. Anytime I feel like I need a little inspiration, I think of what Johnny Ward, (onestep4ward) has done and I say, I want that!

  • A Snowy Walk

    Winter has come early, but what are you going to do? Go for a walk and take photos..

    College park
    The rest of the photos can be seen here

  • There’s a chill in the air

    elmer fudd hat

    The only thing I can find that rhymes with Equinox is pox.. I’m not a fan of the weather from here til next Spring.  September traditionally in Ireland is not a bad month, with a fair bit of sunshine.

    I remember getting sunburned on Oct 5th 2001 in London!

    Other interesting things happen, college and school starts up but I can’t think of anything really nice.

    Living in the northern hemisphere means we are heading into Winter,  on Twitter last night someone mentioned there was 93 sleeps til Christmas. Thanks!

    Me, I need sunshine and probably don’t get enough. It doesn’t help that I go a bright tomato red within ten minutes of the Summer Sun hitting my fair complexion.

    The heating is on in the evenings already, it’s cold, you need it but more depressing I think is the evenings are dark already. Last night it really was pitch black at 2030. 🙁

    I wouldn’t be surprised if I got that Seasonally Affective Disorder, sunshine makes me happy 🙂

    As I prepare to head back to college next week, think of poor old me and my extra layers and gloves (fingerless but with a mitten like top that flips over) and my Elmer Fudd hat as I try to function within our geographically placed icebox.

    It’s September now, what will I be like when we reach our climate reaches its coldest in January…

    Birr! More than a town in Co. Offaly!

    ….nessy out!

    Picture of Elmer Fudd hat from Here